The chemistry of whale oil Glycerol contains 3 carbons and 3 hydroxyl groups which can react with 3 fatty acids to form a triglyceride or neutral fat molecule. These triglycerides are the major component of whale oil. Many commercial uses of whale oil, for example soap, margarine and explosives manufacture, involves breaking down the oil to give glycerol and fatty acids.

The basics of fatty acid structure are quite simple. Each has a long hydrocarbon chain which ranges from 4 to 30 carbons in length with 12-24 most common. The chain is typically linear, and usually contains an even number of carbons. The many fatty acids that are found in nature arise primarily from variation in chain length and in the degree of saturation.

Carbon-carbon double bonds (unsaturations) are found in many fatty acids; there may be one double bond or many, up to six in important fatty acids. Whale oil with a high level of unsaturated fatty acids tends to be fishy in taste and smell.

The major fatty acids to be found in whale oil are: